Railroad switch



March 10, 1925- 155295051 J. R. WYATT RAILROAD SWITCH Filed Nov. 22,1924 Patented Mar. 10, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT 0 7 JOHN R. wyarnor PRINCETON, KENTUCKY.

RAILROAD SWITCH.

Application filed November 22, 1924. Serial No. 751,539.

To all whom it may] concern:

Be it known that I, J GEN R. WYATT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Princeton, in the county of Caldwell and State provideswitch-rails with beveled flanges so of Kentucky, haveinvented certainnew and useful Improvements in Railroad Switches, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in railroad switches and lockingmeans for a rock-shaft having thereon dogs for engagement withswitch-point rails, of the type shown by my Letters Patent No. 848,421,dated March 26, 1907; and the invention forming the subject matter ofthis improvement consists in certain changes in the construction,arrangement, and combination of parts, as will. be hereinafter setforth. and

pointed out in the claims, and the object of my invention is to providea manually operated lock for. holding the rockshaft in nonmovableposition with the dogs thereon held below plane of the switch-pointrails, and

when so locked not to interfere with the Operation ofa throw-bar whichis connected with a switch-stand.

' The invention also provides'a' spring actuated rock-bar having thereondogs which are spring actuated in one direction with means for limitingthe rotary movement of the Y rook-bar.

points, the rook-bar having between one of" a pair of hangers a springfor moving the rock-bar in a direction to position the dogs forengagement with the switch-points, the rock-bar having between thehangers at-. tached to the opposite fixed rail a stop memrockshand-lever 9 thatis pivoted to a horizontally ber, whereby rotativemovement of the bar will be restricted.

A further object of my invention is to provide a construction andmeanswhereby the dogs on the rock-bar will first exert an up ward pressureagainst the under side oftheswitch pointrails prior to contact withthethe spring being to hold the crank 11 raised,

flanges of-the fixed rails.

A further object of my invention is to pro-- vide the rock-barwitliflanged collars for engagement with the outer hangers of the fixedrails to hold the rock bar against lateral movement in the hangers andto provide for a sliding connection between one of the collars and therocking-bar of the switch-stand, the other collar serving :as a

member of a lock for holding the rock-bar against rotative movementwiththe dogs below the plane of theswitch-rails.

A further-object of my invention is to that theymay ride upon theflanges of the fixed rails and when so positioned the points will be onthe same plane as the head of the fixed rail. I

Means for attaining the several objects of my invention are illustratedin the accompanying drawings, in connection with a switch-stand as shownin'iny prior patent Fig. 2, is a transverse section on the line 2-2,Fig. 1.

Fig. 3, is a detail section taken vertically on. theline 38, Fig. 1.

Fig. 4, is a detail section taken vertically on the line H, of Fig. 1. j

Fig. 5, is a side elevation and section, the section being taken on theline 55 of Fig. 4:. Fig. 6, is a plan view of the end portion of one ofthe switch-point rails.

Fig. 7, is aplan view of the other switchpoint rail; and v Fig. 8, is aside elevation partly in section of the switch-stand, which ispreferably used to operate the rock-bar and throw the switch-points orrails.

The switch-stand shown by Figures 1 and 8 of the drawings issubstantially the same as illustrated in my previously mentioned patent,and when it is desired to move the switch-points or rails from I theposition shown by Figure l ofthe drawings, which show the main trackopen for trailic. When it is desired to move the switch-points themovable head of the switch-stand is swung upward so that its upper endwill engage and and rail engaging, dogs or lugs in'engagement withthemovable switch-points, and when the rod is depressed .to position thedogs or lugs below the plane of the switch-.

points or movable rails. The lever 9 having v been raised to ahorizontal position is moved to turn the now unlocked head of theswitchsta-nd a quarter turn the head carrying with it the signal andthrow-bar rod 14 by which the switch-points are moved.

The rock-shaft 12 carries collars which are located on opposite sides ofan apertured hanger through which said shaft is passed and has a limitedplay in the hanger. The end of rock-shaft is key shaped or rectangularto enter a square socket 15, formedina collar 16 having a flange 17, thecollar being fastened seciu'ely'to the end of a rock-shaft 20.

The throw-bar 18 is connected to the crank end of the vertical rod 14,being held in engagement therewith by a cotter or other pin, theopposite end of the throw-bar 18 is held in pivotal engagement with abar 19 that is attached to the switch-point rails, preferably by meansof a bolt and nut. llhe means for connecting the throw bar 18 with thebar 19, and the rock-shaft 12 with the rock-shaft 20, is preferred as itadmits of ready separation of the parts in setting up and taking down oraway the switch stand, and further the construction admits of the use ofa lock for holding the rock-shafts inoperative when desired with thedogs on one of said rock-shafts in position below the plane of the baseof the rails of the way, without interfering with theoperation of thelever of the switch-stand or the movement of. the switch points.

The locking means in simple form consist in providing the rock-shaft 20on its end opposite to the collar 16 with a flanged collar 21 the samehaving therethrough an aperture which is adapted to be brought inregister with an aperture through a hanger 22 secured to one of theouter rails. \Vhen the apertures are in register a pin 23 is passedthrough the apertures and the rockshaft 20 will be held against rotationwith the switch point engaging lugs 24 belowt-he plane of the base ofthe rails, and in an inoperative position. A. spring 25 which encirclesthe rock-shaft between the hangers 26 attached to the fixed rail that isnearest to the switch-stand, the tendency of this spring 25, being toturn therock-sha'ft 20 to elevate the dogs or lugs 24: that are attachedthereto. hen the lock is in use it will not in any way interfere withthe throwing or operation ofthe switch rails by the lever 9, which movesthe turning head of the switch stand, the vertical rod 1 1 and throwbars18 and 19, the latter being attached to 'theswitch points or movabletrack points.

The two fixed rails 27 and 28 of the way have bolted or otherwisesecured thereto, between the switch supporting ties for the switchstand, similar han ers 22 and 80 which maintain the rock-shaft 20, thatis of sufficient length to extend beyond the outer hangers forattachment thereto of the fixtures or collars, and between the hangers22, the rock shatt-20 has rigidly attached thereto a sleeve 31 that hasa projection 32 for engagement with the underside of the base of therail 27 to limit the rotation of the rock-shaft 20 and prevent movementof the lugs or dogs 24 beyond a vertical position or set by the actionof the springs 13 and 25, to hold the movable rails in locked position,as shown by Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings.

The flange of the base portion of the switch-point rail 34- is cutawayor recessed as shown at 35, to provide a clearance for the inner hangerattached to the rail 28, also to provide a flat surface against whichthe side edge of the dog may abut when elevated. The switch point 33 isalso cut away to form a clearance for the inner hanger of the fixed rail27, and the undersides of the switch point rails are beveled as shown,the bevels 36, formed by cutting away the under faces ofthe switch pointrails, permit the rails to ride upon theinner flanges of the fixed railsso the treads of the rails will be on the same horizontal when incontact.

It will be noted that bymy invention I provide a double lock for themain rails of the way, one of the locking or holding means being thethrow bar 14L which is moved by the lever 9 to position its bent end inline with bar 18 that is pivoted to the bar 19 that is secured to theswitch points, the second lock being the rock-shaft 20, which carriesthe dogs or lugs 24; that are moved upward to engage and lock the switchpoints, and are further held in a raisedposition by the spring 18, onthe switch-stand and by a spring 25 that is attached to the rock shaft20, thespring 25 being partially housed between the hangers 30. It willalso be noted that a collar 81 on the rock-shaft 20, which collar has aprojection 32 which serves to limit the movement of the rock-shaft 20,when'the dogs 24-. are in raised position, and that an auxiliary lockcomprising a collar having a flange with an aperture therethrough forthe passage of a pin or bolt, or other means that engages with a fixedhanger may be used to lock the rock bar having thereon the dogs, withsaid dogs held out of operative position, so as to admitof the switchbeing thrown to either position with the rock-shaft and the dogs beingheld in non-operative position. 7'

I claim.

1. In switch mechanism, the combination with a rock-shaft having dogs.for engageunent with switch-points ofrailroad rails,

hangers attached to fixed rails to carry the rock-shaft, a memberfixedly attached to the rock-shaft, and means for engagement therewithand with one of the hangers to hold the rock-shaft against movement andthe dogs thereon in inoperative position.

2. The combination in switch operating mechanism of a-rock-shaft, switchpoint'engaging dogs attached to the rock-shaft, hangers attached to anddepending from non-movable rails for carrying the rock shaft, a memberfixedly attached to an end portion of the rock-shaft and means forholding said member in non-rotative engagement with one of the hangers.

3. The combination in switch operating mechanism of a rock shaft,switch-point engaging dogs attached to the rock-shaft, hangers attachedto fixed rails for maintaining the rock-shaft, one of said hangershaving an aperture therethrough, a disk attached to the rock-shaft andprovided with an aperture which is adapted to aline with the aperturethrough said hanger, and means insertable through the apertures when inahnement to hold the dogs on the rock-shaft below the plane of theswitch-points.

4. In railway switch operating mechanism, the combination with arock-shaft having fast thereon switch-point engaging dogs, a spring onthe rock-shaft for moving the same to position the dogs in position toengage and lock the switch-points, and means carried by the rock-shaftto restrict the turning movement of the rock-shaft.

5. In railwa switch operating mechanism, a rock-shaft provided withswitchpoint engaging dogs, a spring mounted on the rock-shaft saidspring exerting a tendency to turn the rock-shaft to position the dogsin engagement with switch-points, means for restricting the rotativemovement of the rock-shaft, and means for locking the rock-shaft to holdthe dogs in inoperative position.

6. In combination with a switch-stand, a

manually movable and spring actuated rockbar, a rock-shaft havingswitch-point engagmg dogs thereon, a spring on the rock-shaft;

both of said springs co-acting to turn the rock-shaft having the dogsthereon to switchpoint engaging position and means for limiting therotative movement of the rockshaft. p 4

7. In switch operating mechanism the combination with a switch-standhaving a rock-shaft.

JOHN R. WYATT.

